3AM Eternal

[tugrik]

Urg. 3AM, unasleep. Dern flu fragments. Get out of my system already! Might as well do a ramble-update.

On the vehicular side, I took the seats out of the Element tonight out of sheer 'why the heck not' idle time. I'm lacing the seatback bungee-nets together since they don't come pre-installed. The poor GS-motorbike looks all sad with the rear tire gone. It's balacing up on the motorcycle jack because the rim is in at CalBMW getting spokes replaced. The Wing is doing fine, but it's due for its 12k service (which is an ouchy ~$350) so it's sitting idle for a paycheck or two. I could ride it a bit more if I need to without annoying the warranty folks, but I'll be good. Besdies, driving the Element is downright fun in the meanwhile. I need to get back on the bikes soon, though. The rainy season is ending and I want to keep the milage low on the car for a change.

I also finally got around to loading everything (and I mean everything) from the house music collection into the iPod and making a few road-music playlists. I now have the urge to carry a firewire cable around with me in hopes of snagging tunes off of all my mac-toting friends. The wierdest thing so far about it was not knowing how to turn the little bugger off. I finally found the literature and RTFM'd: you have to pause the music (there is no 'stop') and then press/hold the Play key for 2 seconds. Oh, like THAT's intuitive, Apple. I'm starting to see what foofers meant about UI issues. Even so, it's the best MP3 player I've owned. Must. Find. More. Tunes.

On the techno junk front, I'm giving the clear iPod to Roon, 'cause he asked first. Now it's just a matter of our schedules actually crossing for a change. I've been oddly-timed forms of busy lately. The other ones go to foxmagic, though he's gone quiet of late for reasons unknown. I hope he still wants them; he's primarily the reason I saved them from the throw-away box. I now also have a CF-based MP3 player (windows/USB only due to custom software interface) that I'm hoping someone will want to buy off me as it's still got value. Trades or art are perfectly acceptable. It's an e.Digital with a 320mb microdrive in it. It's a good little trooper that's been with me on all my motorcycle trips, and it's rarin' for more abuse. Tough little thing.

I've also been thinking much harder about photography things and what I want to do. I'm pretty set on getting the 10D body when/if I can afford it: it's going to be my chosen main platform. It simply does a few things that my current gear cannot -- things that have bluntly stopped me from taking pictures I wanted to take. However, before I do anything else photo-wise I'm going to test myself out. I've got a little homework-list I'm going to make myself do over the summer and see if I can produce the types of photo works that I truely want to be doing. In short, I'm going to build a portfolio that I'm going to get myself (and some good photo-trusted friends) to review come summer's end, to see if I've improved since I started fusing with these little click-boxes. If I can prove to myself that I've got the skill, then I'll start identifying the equipment paths I want to take from there. If I can't, then I know I'm not serious or skilled enough to warrant throwing more equipment/money at the problem, and I should level out. It's time to start seeing how good my eye and my imagination are with image creation -- not how good of equipment I can snag.

Well, it's 4am now. I'll try that 'sleep' thing again. At least the bossman has been quite understanding of my tendancy to fall asleep at my desk without warning. He got this flu worse than I have and has taken more naps than any of us. :)

(and now I wake up, at 11a, late for work -- only to find that the silly LJ client didn't send the update. Whoops. *clicks Post again*)

Comments

[jadedfox.livejournal.com]

Next time I'm out that way, I'll share my collection with ya. :)

I love my little iPod. (And yes, mine Mac formatted, I don't remember if I mentioned that when I was out there.)

[higginsdragon.livejournal.com]

Just as a word of note from what I understand, an iPod recognizes the computer it was attached to when downloading music to it. If connected to another computer, the hard drive portion will only show up, but you won't be able to transfer MP3s directly to it to play without wiping all the MP3's currently on it, off, so it can sync to a new computer. Not sure if it still does this on the PC side of things, but it's Apple's consession to the recording industry so music can't be swiped so easily. Still can toss stuff to the HD for later use though.

[foxmagic.livejournal.com]

My apologies for having gone quiet! Things have been *very* hectic of late. Read my journal for the full scoop!

Thank you for the Newtons! I don't want you to go to any trouble sending 'em out to me... I wonder if you could hand 'em off to Noressa if she'll be visiting Florida again anytime soon? Or are you planning any cross-country motorcycle trips? :) (I intend to visit California one of these days, as soon as the economy recovers and I'm not so badly in debt!)

By the way, speaking of cross-country trips, you're always welcome to come visit. There's a room available here just about any time you need it. :)

And I'll remember the favor of you having gotten those Newtons for me -- let me know if I can repay you at any point in the future. :)